There will not be a host Sunday when “The 91st Academy Awards” commences at 8 p.m. on ABC. But all five of the nominees for best song will be performed, despite earlier plans to air only two of them. And in a surprise decision, the academy reversed plans not to air live the awards for best cinematography, film editing, live-action short and makeup and hairstyling after a furious outcry from academy members and the various guilds representing those crafts.

Rather than honoring what the academy believes to be the best in cinema for 2018, it seems its priority is completing the show in three hours. I suggest they cut out the vapid banter between presenters along with the stale jokes, most of which will no doubt fall flat on the floor of the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Honor the art of filmmaking, give us some music, let us hear from all the winners and allow us to remember the artists who have passed on. That's the show I want.

Eight movies are vying for the big prize Sunday night, and although it's clear to most cinema experts which picture is the most worthy choice (Hint: It's foreign), one never can underestimate the voters' penchant for a lack of vision. Industry politics plays too large a part in the process of selecting the year's most artistically successful achievements in filmmaking.

For example, there are those members who will refuse to vote for the year's best picture, Alfonso Cuaron's “Roma,” simply because it's a Netflix production. (“Roma” also is the ninth movie to be nominated for both best foreign-language film and best picture. None of the previous eight won the latter.)

Subject matter is crucial, especially in a year when the issue of race has played a starring role in several of the contenders: “Black Panther,” “BlacKkKlansman” and “Green Book.” For that reason alone, the chances of any of these three movies capturing the best-picture trophy are diminished, as the black vote will be divided among those three films.

Slight edge

The fact that “Green Book” won the Producers Guild of America award gives that film a slight edge over the other two, and perhaps even puts it among the top three pictures. The stunningly popular “Bohemian Rhapsody,” as muddled a film as I ever have seen make the final cut, has an excellent chance to deliver a best-actor statuette to Rami Malek for his acclaimed turn as Queen singer Freddie Mercury. But with its director, Bryan Singer, fired before completing the picture due to accusations of sexually molesting boys, the best-picture prize is out of its reach.

That leaves “Vice,” “A Star Is Born” and “The Favourite.” “Vice” has a shot at best actor for Christian Bale's superlative work as Dick Cheney and is deservedly expected to win the film-editing prize. “A Star Is Born” will win best song for “Shallow” and seems likely to be honored for best sound mixing (its closest competition coming from “First Man” and “Bohemian Rhapsody”).

At one point, Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”) was considered to be in a tight race with Glenn Close (“The Wife”) for best actress in a leading role, but now it seems Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”) is Close's chief rival after the stellar showing of “The Favourite” at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards on Feb. 10.

So could the British film overtake both “Roma” and “Green Book” to win best picture at the American Oscars? It could, of course. It's a breathtaking piece of cinematic art, at once tragic and farcical as it boasts three astounding female performances in an age when projects that feature women are all the rage. However, it's not likely.

When it comes down to it, voters who understand the intricacies of filmmaking will support Cuaron's masterpiece. Those who vote their personal politics will not. But let us not forget that “Roma” is a co-production of Mexico and the United States, one of the few things these days our two countries do well together, other than buy each other's avocados. A win for “Roma” would speak volumes about how a majority of film artists feel about a wall that seeks to divide cultures that can collaborate in the creation of so brilliant a work of art.

Awards divided evenly

One thing is certain Sunday night: No film will steal the evening. The awards will be divided nearly evenly among the front-runners: “Roma” and “The Favourite.” The year's most successful film, and a groundbreaking one, Ryan Coogler's “Black Panther,” may end up winning nothing, although it could perhaps fight it out for best production design and costumes with “The Favourite.”

Without overthinking it, here are the winners of the four acting categories: Best actor, Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”); best actress, Glenn Close (“The Wife”); best supporting actor, Mahershala Ali, “Green Book”; and best supporting actress, Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Possible upsets include Christian Bale (“Vice”) as best actor, Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”) as best actress, and either Rachel Weisz (“The Favourite”) or Amy Adams (“Vice”) for best supporting actress.

No one can overtake Mahershala Ali, even if for some time there was strong support for Richard E. Grant in his role as a gay con artist in “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

The night's one sure bet is the Oscar for best director, certain to be placed in the hands of Alfonso Cuaron for his quasi-autobiographical “Roma.” There are some who believe Spike Lee (“BlacKkKlansman”) could perhaps win on the merit of this being his first Oscar nomination for direction. But he will most likely have to settle for best adapted screenplay.

If “Black Panther” is totally overlooked, rest assured that the academy will try to re-introduce its derided popular-film category for next year's ceremony. Although it's not the year's best picture, it can't be dismissed as a comic-book movie as so many in the industry seem to have done.

'Black Panther' a game changer

The provocative universe created in “Black Panther” is a game-changer for black filmmaking, indeed for American filmmaking. It fashions a world in which black moviegoers are allowed to see themselves as major players on the geopolitical stage. Coogler imagines an Africa impossible to be defined by President Trump's crude description of countries on that continent, but rather a technological leader and a place where peace is the rule and fighting climate change is a primary goal.

It is a land, this fictional nation of Wakanda with its equally powerful men and women, that only could emerge in an age with no comprehension of racism. It boldly provides food for thought. Indeed, the academy may want to consider, instead of an Oscar for popular movies, one for groundbreaking films that include all genres. “Black Panther” certainly would be considered for such a prize this year.

No doubt, there will be happy surprises and disappointing snubs. Although the final results appear relatively evident, the Oscars never go as we think they will. And that's what makes them so entertaining to watch.

And the Oscar goes to …

Reading Eagle correspondent George Hatza predicts the winners of Sunday night's Academy Awards in all 24 categories and also reveals his personal preferences.